Electrophotostatic copying machine



Jail. 20,1970 K. R. REICK A 3,490,342

ELECTROPHOTOSTATI C COPYING MACHIflE Filed Oct. 18, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1- 17 m -wa a 1 IIII lmmllllu "IHHIHIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllllllll"llilli 1970 K. R. RE ICK ET AL ELECTROPHOTOSTATIC COPYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1966 w OE . mm B Jan. 20, 1970 K. R. REICK ET AL 3,490,842

mmcmornowoswmrc comma MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,490,842 ELECTROPHOTOSTATIC COPYING MACHINE Kenneth R. Reick, Downers Grove, and Emil Tiger, Highland Park, Ill., assignors to Sunbeam Business Equipment 'Co., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 587,529 Int. Cl. G03g 15/10 US. Cl. 355-10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrophotographic copying machine wherein stationary rotating rools direct a master and copy along a generally planar path through a corona device and an illumination device into a separator, further stationary rotating means being provided to take only the copy through a developer along a path generally the reverse of the first path whereby a compact easily disassembled machine is provided.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION The instant invention is an improvement over that set forth in the co-owned, co-pending application of Emil Tiger et al. Ser. No. 410,549 now Patent No. 3,345,926, of Oct. 10, 1967. Reference may be had to that application for details of general construction and the like which are not disclosed here.

The goal of workers in this art, i.e., those concerned with office copiers has been to reduce the cost and size of the machine while improving the performance thereof-these being conflicting objectives. We have attained reconciliation and achievement of these objectives through a machine which, in one embodiment is only 21" wide, 13 front-to-back, and 7 /2" high. This has been achieved without sacrifice of operational values and, in fact, is characterized by a superiority of performance over predecessor machines. Thus, a principal objective of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described, i.e., a truly portable machine.

The inventive machine includes a noval arrangement of components which perform the copying operation, the novelty in one aspect residing in the spatial arrangement of components to achieve unique compactness and operational excellence simultaneously. The provision of these novel components both singly and in combination with each other constitutes other objectives of this invention.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation of the machine and its component parts as set forth in the ensuing specification.

The invention is explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive machine, looking downwardly on the front of the device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drive side of the inventive machine seen in FIG. 1 but with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the components in the upper central portion of the machine and corresponds essentially to a view taken along the section line 4-4 applied to FIG. 7;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that seen in the right hand portion of FIG. 4 but with the parts thereof in a different operational position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the machine, looking from the drive side and additionally showing in "Ice dotted line the upper roller section pivoted to access condition;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view such as would be seen along the sight line 77 applied to FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the machine with the cover removed and with both the upper and lower roller sections pivoted upwardly to yield access to the development structure of the machine.

In the illustration given and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates generally the inventive machine which may advantageously have the dimensions previously referred to. The machine is equipped with means in form of an electrical cord 11 adapted to couple the same to a source of electricity. The machine 10 includes a base 12 and a removable cover 13. The showing in FIG. 2 differs from that in FIG. 1 essentially in that the cover 13 has been removed from its position on the base 12.

The cover 13 is suitably apertured, i.e., equipped with a horizontal slot as at 14 for the receipt of the original and copy papers which are normally fed into the machine by first positioning the papers on a horizontal platform 15the platform 15 being provided as part of the interior structure supported on the base 12. The cover further includes a second elongated slot as at 17 from which the original issues after its information has been imparted to the copy sheet. Lastly, the interior portion of the mechanism mounted on the base 12 independently of the cover 13 provides a third elongated slot 18 from which the copy issues. The cover 13 is suitably apertured to permit the protrusion of a knob or fitting 19 which is employed to regulate the intensity of the light, i.e., vary the voltage to the lamp device to be described hereinafter.

Still referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the interior of the machine is characterized by an upper roller section generally designated 20 and a lowerroller section generally designated 21. The respective sections can be appreciated by a comparison of FIGS. 6 and 8. In FIG. 6 the upper roller section is seen in dotted line pivoted from the remainder of the device while in FIG. 8 both sections have been pivoted away as a unit, revealing the base 11.

OPERATION-GENERALLY The operation of the device, in generalized outline, can

' be appreciated from a consideration principally of FIG.

3. The operation is initiated by placing M and C (master and copysee FIG. 4) on a platform 15 whereupon the lever 22 is moved to the operating position. This move ment serves to fill the toner tub 23 with development fluid from a bag 24. This is achieved by the downward move ment of arm 25 urging presser plate 26 so as to collapse the bag 24. It will be seen from the right hand lower corner of FIG. 3 that the plate 26 is hingedly mounted on hinge pin 27.

Simultaneously, the forward movement of lever 22 (which is rotatably mounted on pivot 28) moves cam 29 to actuate switch 30 (see FIG. 6). The closing of switch 30 supplies electricity to the power pack 31 and the motor 32. The motor 32 and the drive system generally designated 33 are all mounted on the lower roller section 21. With the actuation of switch 30, the machine is now operational.

As the two papers are inserted into the slot 14, they are engaged by the pull rolls 34 and 35 to advance the papers (now in face-to-face relation) along a generally planar path adjacent the upper roller section 20. Thereafter, the papers pass through the corona device 36, pass the lamp 37 and into a separator mechanism generally designated 38. The separator mechanism 38 serves to strip the master M away from the copy C causing the master M to issue to the upper slot 17 while the copy engages a deflector 39 and is directed toward the developing fluid in the tub 23the developing unit being generally designated by the numeral 40- in FIG. 3.

DRIVE SYSTEM The means for achieving the passage of the sheets of paper previously referred to can be best appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 6 where the sprocket on the motor 32 is designated 41 and operates to advance the chain 42 through a closed path. Proceeding to the left from the sprocket 41 in FIG. 6, the chain next encounters a tensioning and idler arrangement generally designated 43 and thereafter is entrained on sprocket 44 which is coaxial with the pull roller 35. It will be appreciated that the pull roller 35 is driven while the cooperating pull roller 34 (provided on the upper roller section is an idler, being itself driven by its engagement with the powered roller 35. Continuing further, the chain next engages a sprocket 45 associated with an output squeegee roll 46 (see FIG. 3). The roll 46, like the pull roll 35 is associated with an idler roll 47 to define a nip for the gripping and squeezing of paper and passing the now developed sheet of copy C outwardly through the copy exit slot 18.

Continuing the drive system, the chain further engages sprockets 48 and 49 (best seen in FIG. 6). The sprocket 48 is provided on the same shaft as the roller 50 (see particularly FIG. 4). The roller 50 cooperates with the lamp 37 in exposing the copy sheet, the roll 50 being constructed of resilient material so as to deform into conformity as at 51 relative to the cylindrical lamp 37. The lamp 37 is a flourescent lamp with an aperture as at 52 (see FIG. 7) of about The aperture 52 is in the section of the lamp 37 directly above and facing the roller 50. Advantageously, the roller 50 is constructed of a resilient material such as polyurethane foam rubber. The axis of the roller 50 is placed sufficiently close to the stationary lamp 37 so that the resilient material closely conforms to the cylindrical shape of the lamp 37 over the area of the aperture 52. The result is that during exposure, both the original M and the copy sheet C are pressed against and conform to the cylindrical surface of the lamp 37. Preferably, the surface of the roller 50 conforms to the shape of the lamp 37 to an extent and for an area which is greater than the area of the aperture 52 so that all the light emitted from the lamp 37 is used in the exposure process.

SEPARATOR MECHANISM The sprocket 49 is responsible for powering the separator mechanism generally designated 38 which includes rolls 53, 54 and 55-see the right hand portion of FIG. 4 and all of FIG. 5. The lowest roller 53 is co-axially related to the sprocket 49 and thus is driven by the chain 42. The upper roller 54 is in contact with the powered roller 53 and rotates as a result of this contact in a direction opposite to that of the roller 53. In the upper roller 54 there are parallel annular grooves 56 about midway of the roller length. A pick-up ring 57 is mounted in each of the grooves 56, each ring 57 freely riding in its associated groove 56. For this purpose the inside diameter of each pick-up ring 57 is greater than the diameter of groove 56. Each pick-up ring (see FIG. 4) is an incomplete ring and at one end has a series of integral folded portions to weight one end and to provide a protruding finger 58 (again see FIG. 4). The force of gravity plus the rotation of the drive roller 53 keeps each pick-up ring 57 in the position shown in FIG. 4 until such time as it is moved by the force of the advancing original M. It will be noted pick-up finger 58 of the ring 57 rides against the rotating surface of the powered roller 53 so that it will pick up or deflect the original sheet M as it passes through the roller 53 and 54.

As the leading edge of the original M passes through the roller 53 and 54, it strikes the protruding finger 58 and is deflected upwardly. As the original sheet is being positively advanced, the leading edge rotates each pick-up ring 57 until that portion of each pick-up rings 57 which protrudes from the groove 56 of the roller 53 comes in contact with the wiping roller 55 (see FIG. 4). Due to the pulley system and the size of the wiping roller 55, the surface speed of roller 55 is greater than the surface speed of the roller 53-here it will be appreciated that the roller 55 is driven by a pulley 55a (see FIG. 6) which is coupled to the same shaft that carries sprocket 49 and roller 53-this by means of belt 59, This creates a wiping action which brushes each pick-up ring 57 and drives it ahead of the leading edge of the original, which is prevented from being accelerated by the friction applied as a result of the action of rollers 53 and 54. Roller 55 is made of resilient material which serves to brush the ring with suflicient force to accelerate it yet will not deform so as to damage the ring.

After the pick-up rings 57 are wiped clear of the original, the original M comes in contact with the wiping roller 55 and is projected out of the machine through the exit slot 17. After the engagement as shown in FIG. 4, each pick-up ring 57 comes in contact with the wiping roller 55 as a result of force applied by the leading edge of the original M. FIG. 5 shows the position of each pick-up ring 57 after it has been wiped clear of the original and is in the process of rotating due to the pull of gravity and the wiping action of the respective rollers until it returns to its normal position as shown in FIG 4 DETAILS OF OPERATION In the operation of the machine, the copy sheet C trails the original M by about As-this trailing being suflicient so as to insure that the copy sheet is not picked up by the protruding fingers 58 of the pick-up rings 57 and in such a case be deflected upwardly along with the original. If the leading edge of the copy sheet trails the leading edge of the original by about Ms" the pick-up rings 57 have been moved by the original out of the way of the copy sheet and the copy sheet will be projected forwardly by roller 53 until it strikes the deflecting arm 60 of the deflector 39. This directs the copy sheet downwardly into the solution tub 23 of the developer apparatus 40. The tub 23 may advantageously be equipped with ribs extending in the direction of sheet travel which serve to guide the copy sheet through the development solution and into the nip defined by the squeegee rollers 46 and 47 which serve to squeeze the excess toner fluid from the copy sheet.

The operation, calls for the zinc-coated copy sheet to receive an electrical charge in the corona device 36. The corona device 36 may be that shown in co-owned US. Patent Nos. 3,277,298 and 3,276,773. The exposure takes place between the aperture lamp 37 and the resilient roller 50. The light striking the electrostatically charged copy sheet C causes a discharge except where the image of the original appears on the copy sheet. The latent image on the copy sheet attracts the carbon particles in the toner solution as it passes through the toner tub 23. The

excess fluid is squeezed from the copy sheet by the rollers 46 and 47 and a dry copy is ejected from the machine on its face a copy of the original. All colors are copied in the machine; it is thereby not limited to the copying of only certain types of markings.

MACHINE CONSTRUCTION As pointed out previously the machine 10 includes a base 11 which can be formed of metal but also which may be formed of relatively heavy plastic material. It is preferable that it be pan shaped in order that any accidentally spilled toner fluid will be contained within the base. The relatively heavy power pack 31 is attached securely to the base 11 by brackets (not shown). A lower hinge member 61 is secured within the base 11-in the illustration given two such members are provided so as to permit the movement of the lower roller section 21 from the position seen in FIG. 6 to the position seen in FIG. 8. For this purpose, a pivot arm 62 is connected between each side plate 63 of the lower roller section 21 and a pivot 64 provided on the hinge member 61.

As seen in FIG. 6, the upper roller section 20 can be selectively pivoted away from the lower roller section 21 and in this instance the shaft of the wiping roller 55 is used as a pivot for the upper roller sectionthis exposing the upper section which includes the idler feed roller 34, lamp 37, separator roller 54 and wiping roller 55. In the lower section 21, the following are exposed: drive roller 35, corona device 36, resilient roller 50 and separator drive roller 53. The ability to open the machine in this manner facilitates repairs and in the event that any orginal and/or copy sheet should jam in the machine, the jam may be readily be cleared. When the upper roller section 20 is in its operating position on top of the lower section 21, the two sections are attached to each other by spring locks as at 65 (see FIG. 8).

The wiping roller is equipped with a shaft 66 (see FIG. 7) about which the upper section 20 (including side walls 67) pivots. Additionally, the shaft 66 supports rubber paddle wheels 68. Since a relatively wide original M in the process of being projected upwardly through the exit slot 17 is apt to droop, the paddle wheels 68 assist in resisting this tendency. Still referring to FIG. 7, we noted that three grooves 56 and three pick-up rings 57 are employed on the separator roller 54. This assures pick up of the original M and eliminates the possibility of a frayed or torn edge of the original avoiding only a single pick-up ring 57. Further, this reduces the possibility that a small original could pass through the machine without being picked up. It will also be noted that if the original sheet is less than /8" or so behind the leading edge of the original or is in front of it or even with it, the copy sheet as well as the original will be projected upwardly through the exit slot 47, and there is no danger of the original being deflected downwardly into the toner solution. Further, if the user inadvertently places the original beneath the copy sheet and feeds it into the machine in this manner, both the copy sheet and the original will be projected through the exit slot 17 The arrangement employed for the toner solution may follow the teaching of co-owned U.S. Patent No. 3,l65,- 998. In this patent, the developer solution structure was used in combination with an assembly of photosensitive positive and negative paper sheets wherein these sheets following detachment of separation from an original were run through a developer solution and pressed together to afford a photo-exact copy of the original on the positive sheet. Such an open arrangement was considered unsuitable for an electrostatic machine because it was generally felt in the industry that it was necessary to continuously agitate the toner solution in order to procure good copy. To the contrary, we have found that the relatively simple rugged and inexpensive system employed herein results in good copies and the agitation supplied bythe squeezing action initiated by depressing the lever 22 is satisfactory.

Not only through the use of the toner system mentioned immediately above but also through the use of a straightline arrangement for charging and illumination, both cost and space are saved. Here it would be appreciated that we do not have to utilize a lens system, a relatively expensive quartz-line lamp and a plurality of switches required to synchronize movement of the copy sheet with the original. In contrast, we employ a relatively low power fluorescent lamp (rating about 14 watts) which generates a relatively small fraction of the heat generated by a quartz-line lamp-therefore the lamp can be left on ally through a corona component and an illumination 15 component into a separator component, means on said base for directing the one of said sheets constituting said copy along a path essentially reverse to the firstrnentioned path, and a developer component in said reverse path said advancing means including a first and a second subframe pivotally related to said base whereby said subframes can be repositioned to afford access either to said advancing means or to said developer component.

2. An electrophotostatic copying machine comprising a base, a first subframe pivotally mounted on said base, a second subframe pivotally mounted on said first subframe for separate or joint pivotal movement with said first subframe, a plurality of powered rolls rotatably mounted on said first subframe for cooperation with non-power members on said second subframe for advancing superposed sheets along a first path, deflector means on said first subframe for directing one of said sheets along a path essentially the reverse of said first path, and a developer component on said base positioned for engagement by said one sheet when the same is travelling in said reverse path.

3. The machine of claim 2 in which said developer component includes a collapsible bag containing toner fluid, a presser plate pivotally mounted on said base for coac tion with said bag in moving fluid relative thereto, a lever pivotally mounted on said subframe for engaging said plate and for delivering power to said powered rolls.

4. The machine of claim 2 in which said non-powered members include the following in proceeding along said first path: a pull roll, a cylindrical lamp and a separator roll, said subframes being equipped with a corona component between said pull roll and lamp whereby a copy sheet is adapted to be sensitized, exposed and separated from a master sheet before engaging said deflector means. 50 5. The machine of claim 4 in which said base is equipped with a removable cover, said cover being equipped with an access slot at the beginnings of said first path for introduction of said superposed sheets with said master leading said copy sheet, said cover being equipped with a second slot above said separator roll for discharging said master sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 

